# Politics in Luton

Luton, England, is a unitary authority, and remains part of the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire. Luton is currently represented by 48 councillors of the Luton Borough Council, the Bedfordshire Police and crime commissioner, and two MPs in the constituencies of Luton North and Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
Between 1999 and 2010, Luton was additionally represented by the East of England Regional Assembly.

## History

Prior to the Local Government Act 1972, Luton had been a county borough, but still part of the county of Bedfordshire. However, with the abolition of the county boroughs, Luton was fully integrated into Bedfordshire and its county council. This wasn't to last however, as in 1992, the Local Government Commission for England, recommended that Luton be made into a unitary authority and be separate of the county council. The government agreed and this was enforced from 1997 onwards.
Luton remains part of Bedfordshire for ceremonial purposes and one Lord Lieutenant serves for the whole ceremonial county.

## Luton Borough Council

As of 2024, Luton Borough Council is represented by 48 councillors across 20 wards. The council offices are centred on the Town Hall on George Street, Luton.

### Local election results

Luton Local Election Result 2015 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % |
| Labour | 35 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 72.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.7 |
| Conservative | 5 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 10.5 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Luton Local Election Result 2011 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % |
| Labour | 36 | 11 | 0 | +11 | 75.0 |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 16.7 |
| Conservative | 4 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 8.3 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Luton Local Election Result 2007 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % |
| Labour | 26 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 54.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | 17 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 35.4 |
| Conservative | 5 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 10.4 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0.0 |
NB: The make up of the council changed between 2003 and 2007, hence the apparent inconsistencies between the councillors in 2003 and the changes recorded for 2007.
Luton Local Election Result 2003 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % |
| Labour | 23 | 0 | -13 | -13 | 47.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | 21 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 43.8 |
| Conservative | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8.3 |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.1 |
Luton Local Election Result 1999 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Seats % |
| Labour | 36 | 0 | 75 |
| Liberal Democrats | 9 | | 18.8 |
| Conservative | 3 | | 6.3 |
| Independent | 0 | | 0.0 |

## East of England Regional Assembly

Whilst not a directly elected body, the East of England Regional Assembly was responsible between 1999 and 2010 for promoting the economic, environmental and social well-being of the East England region. It was made up of representatives from councils across the region, business organisations, public sector agencies, education and training bodies, trade unions and co-operatives and the voluntary and community sector.

## Police and Crime Commissioner

The Police and Crime Commissioner is a Bedfordshire county-wide post. As of May 2024, the post is held by John Tizard for Labour.

## UK Parliament

The town of Luton historically was part of the Bedfordshire constituency which was created in 1290. In 1885, the county was redistributed into two seats, one of which was Luton, formally the Southern or Luton Division of Bedfordshire. After a Second Periodic Review of constituencies, which came into effect in February 1974, the town was divided into Luton West and Luton East. These two seats were fairly short lived; for 1983, after the third review, the town was reorganised as Luton North and Luton South. In the 2023 review, the latter was expanded and renamed Luton South and South Bedfordshire.

### Members of Parliament for Luton constituency

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1885 | Cyril Flower | Liberal |
| | 1892 | Samuel Howard Whitbread | |
| | 1895 | Thomas Gair Ashton | Liberal |
| | 1911 | Cecil Bisshopp Harmsworth | Liberal |
| | 1922 | Sir John Prescott Hewett | |
| | 1923 | Geoffrey William Algernon Howard | Liberal |
| | 1924 | Terence James O'Connor | Unionist |
| | 1929 | Edward Leslie Burgin | Liberal |
| | 1931 | Edward Leslie Burgin | National Liberal |
| | 1945 | William Warbey | Labour |
| | 1950 | Charles Hill | Conservative |
| | 1963 | William Howie | Labour |
| | 1970 | Charles Simeons | Conservative |
| Feb 1974 | Feb 1974 | Constituency abolished: see Luton East and Luton West | Constituency abolished: see Luton East and Luton West |

### Luton East

* Constituency created (1974)
| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | Feb. 1974 | Ivor Clemitson | Labour |
| | 1979 | Graham Bright | Conservative |
* Constituency abolished (1983)

### Luton West

* Constituency created (1974)
| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | Feb. 1974 | Brian Sedgemore | Labour |
| | 1979 | John Russell Carlisle | Conservative |
* Constituency abolished (1983)

### Luton North

* Constituency created (1983)
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1983 | John Russell Carlisle | Conservative |
| 1987 | John Russell Carlisle | Conservative |
| 1992 | John Russell Carlisle | Conservative |
| 1997 | Kelvin Hopkins | Labour |
| 2001 | Kelvin Hopkins | Labour |
| 2005 | Kelvin Hopkins | Labour |
| 2010 | Kelvin Hopkins | Labour |
| 2015 | Kelvin Hopkins | Labour |
| 2017 | Kelvin Hopkins | Labour |
| 2019 | Sarah Owen | Labour |
| 2024 | Sarah Owen | Labour |

### Luton South

* Constituency created (1983)
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1983 | Graham Bright | Conservative |
| 1987 | Graham Bright | Conservative |
| 1992 | Graham Bright | Conservative |
| 1997 | Margaret Moran | Labour |
| 2001 | Margaret Moran | Labour |
| 2005 | Margaret Moran | Labour |
| 2010 | Gavin Shuker | Labour |
| 2015 | Gavin Shuker | Labour |
| 2017 | Gavin Shuker | Labour |
| 2019 | Rachel Hopkins | Labour |
| 2024 | Rachel Hopkins | Labour |